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  Colonoscopy video processing for quality metrics determinationUSPTO Application #: 20060293558Title: Colonoscopy video processing for quality metrics determination Abstract: A computer-based method that allows automated measurement of a number of metrics that likely reflect the quality of a colonoscopic procedure. The method is based on analysis of a digitized video file created during colonoscopy, and produces information regarding insertion time, withdrawal time, images at the time of maximal intubation, the time and ratio of clear versus blurred or non-informative images, and a first estimate of effort performed by the endoscopist. As these metrics can be obtained automatically, the method allows future quality control in the day-to-day medical practice setting on a large scale. In addition, the method can be adapted to other healthcare procedures. The method may be useful to assess progress during colonoscopy training, or as part of endoscopic skills assessment evaluations. (end of abstract) Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing - Minneapolis, MN, US Inventors: Piet C. De Groen, Junghwan Oh, Wallapak Tavanapong, Johnny Wong USPTO Applicaton #: 20060293558 - Class: 600101000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Surgery, Endoscope The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060293558. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/691,627 titled "Colonoscopy Video Processing for Quality Metrics Determination", filed Jun. 17, 2005 and provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. ______ titled "Colonoscopy Video Processing for Quality Metrics Determination" filed on Jun. 13, 2006, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to a system for evaluating the quality of an endoscopy video. BACKGROUND [0003] Advances in video technology are being incorporated into today's healthcare practices. Various types of endoscopes (a flexible tube with a tiny video camera at the tip) are used for colonoscopy, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, enteroscopy, bronchoscopy, cystoscopy, laparoscopy, wireless capsule endoscopy, and invasive surgeries (e.g., laparoscopic surgery, arthroscopic surgery, video endoscopic neurosurgery). During an endoscopic procedure, an endoscopist advances the endoscope through the patient's anatomy. The tiny video camera generates a video signal of the interior of a human organ, which is displayed on a monitor for real-time analysis by the physician. [0004] Colonoscopy is an important screening tool for colorectal cancer. In the US, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of all cancer deaths behind lung cancer. As the name implies, colorectal cancers are malignant tumors that develop in the colon and rectum. The survival rate is higher if the cancer is found and treated early before metastasis to lymph nodes or other organs occurs. [0005] The colon is a hollow, muscular tube or lumen about 6 feet long, and consists of six parts or segments: cecum with appendix, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid and rectum. Colonoscopy allows for inspection of the entire colon and provides the ability to perform a number of therapeutic operations such as biopsy and polyp removal during a single procedure. A colonoscopic procedure consists of two phases: an insertion phase and a withdrawal phase. During the insertion phase, a flexible endoscope is advanced under direct vision via the anus into the rectum and then gradually into the most proximal part of the colon or the terminal ileum. In the withdrawal phase, the endoscope is gradually withdrawn while the endoscopist moves the camera back and forth to examine suspicious regions. The purpose of the insertion phase is to reach the cecum or the terminal ileum. Careful mucosa inspection and diagnostic or therapeutic interventions such as biopsy, polyp removal, etc., are performed in the withdrawal phase. [0006] Although colonoscopy has become the preferred screening modality for prevention of colorectal cancer, recent data suggest that there is a significant miss-rate for the detection of even large polyps and cancers. The miss-rate may be related to the quality of the video image produced during the procedure that is then reviewed by the physician or endoscopist. Current endoscopes are equipped with a single, wide-angle lens, and typically do not have camera operation function such as zoom-in, zoom-out and auto focusing. Thus, video data of colonoscopies typically have many blurry (out-of-focus) frames due to frequent shifts of camera positions while moving along the colon. Because of these limitations, a significant number of out-of-focus frames (for colonoscopy the average is about 37%, but it can be over 60% depending on the endoscopist's skill and the patient's conditions) are included in the colonoscopy video. The out-of-focus frames do not hold any useful information. Such out-of-focus or non-informative frames are usually generated for the following reasons: (1) too-close (or too-far) focus into (from) the mucosa of the colon or (2) foreign substances (i.e., stool, cleansing agent, air bubbles, etc.) covering camera lens. [0007] In addition, non-informative frames may be caused by the endoscope camera moving too rapidly through the colon. Thus, the miss-rate, or the ability to review the endoscopy video efficiently and accurately, is related to the experience of the endoscopist in generating the endoscopy video. This is because it is the endoscopist who controls the speed of the camera's movement through the colon and when and how often the camera is moved back and forth. [0008] In one example, current American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guidelines suggest that on average the withdrawal phase during a screening colonoscopy should last a minimum of 6-10 minutes. However, even though the withdrawal time may meet the guidelines, the quality of the colonoscopy cannot be determined if the colonoscopic procedure has a large number of out-of-focus frames in the withdrawal phase, or if a relatively low number of frames are devoted to suspicious regions. Currently, there is no measurement method to evaluate the endoscopist's skill and the quality of colonoscopic procedure. [0009] What is needed, then, is a method of analyzing an endoscopy video to evaluate the endoscopist's skill and the quality of the endoscopy procedure. SUMMARY [0010] In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for evaluating the quality of an endoscopy procedure performed by inserting and withdrawing an endoscopic camera through a lumen. Digital video data containing images of an endoscopy procedure is acquired. The digital video data is analyzed to acquire information relating to movement of the camera through the lumen. From the camera movement information, at least a first quality metric relating to the endoscopy procedure is calculated. [0011] In another embodiment, the present invention is a method for evaluating the quality of an endoscopy procedure performed by inserting and withdrawing an endoscopic camera through a lumen wherein the endoscopy procedure is recorded as digital video data containing images of the endoscopy procedure. It is determined whether an image is non-informative or informative. The informative images are analyzed to acquire information relating to movement of the camera through the lumen. From the camera movement information, at least a first quality metric relating to the endoscopy procedure is calculated. [0012] In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a system for evaluating the quality of an endoscopy procedure performed by inserting and withdrawing an endoscopic camera through a lumen. The endoscopy procedure is recorded as digital video data containing images of the endoscopy procedure. The system includes a first means for analyzing the digital video data to acquire information relating to movement of the camera through the lumen. The system further includes a second means for calculating from the camera movement information at least a first quality metric relating to the endoscopy procedure. The system also includes a third means for assigning a satisfactory rating to the endoscopic procedure if the quality metric at least meets a predetermined threshold and assigning an unsatisfactory rating to the endoscopic procedure if the quality metric does not meet the predetermined threshold. [0013] While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] FIG. 1 shows an endoscopy camera in relation to a colon. [0015] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart illustrating a process for computing quality metrics of a colonoscopy video according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 3 shows camera motions in a colonoscopy video. [0017] FIG. 4 shows a process for clustering-based non-informative frame filtering according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 5 shows patterns for motion vectors filtering according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 6 shows a 3D camera motion model according to one embodiment of the present invention. Continue reading... Full patent description for Colonoscopy video processing for quality metrics determination Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Colonoscopy video processing for quality metrics determination patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Colonoscopy video processing for quality metrics determination or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Surgical introducer apparatus and methods of use Next Patent Application: Endoscope with remote control module or camera Industry Class: Surgery ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Colonoscopy video processing for quality metrics determination patent info. 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